91快活林 Peer Support Volunteer of the Year 2013 Awarded
鈥淪till makes sure we鈥檙e OK鈥�, 鈥淭reated me with respect,鈥� 鈥淗as gone over & above what was needed and will probably carry on for the remainder of his time here,鈥� 鈥淚s a big part of our friendship group鈥濃��
These glowing tributes and recommendations come from the nominations for one particular student for the 91快活林鈥檚 Peer Support Volunteer of the Year Award.
Professor John G Hughes, Vice-Chancellor, presents Nathan Gibbons with the Award.Nathan Gibbons, who is 20 and comes from Grimsbury in Banbury, Oxon., is the student described, and was awarded the Peer Support Volunteer of the Year Award, which comes with a 拢50 prize and a plaque, for his sterling work as a Peer Guide. He is studying Clinical and Health Psychology at 91快活林 and is a former pupil of Banbury School.
Nathan volunteered to become a , influenced by his own first year experience of the Peer Guide he was assigned to when he began his studies at the University鈥檚.
Nathan said: 鈥淚 thought that other students deserved the same if not better level of support than my own student experience.鈥�
鈥淏eing a Peer guide, I鈥檝e been amazed at how people have flourished and grown within a week of having a bit of support,鈥� he added.
Nathan Gibbons.Nathan described how having volunteered, and being selected, he received training for the role.
The University鈥檚 Peer Guiding Scheme helps first year students to settle to University life. The Scheme matches up new students with 鈥楶eer Guides鈥�, current second and third year students who act as mentors, arranging social activities, showing students around and generally giving advice, from the best place to shop - to signposting where to go in the University for academic or other support. It is one of the largest such schemes in the country and has been developing and expanding for 19 years since the original pilot.
At the end of the year, all the first year students whether undergraduate or postgraduate, are invited to nominate volunteers for the Annual Award. This year, nearly 40 Peer Guides, Postgraduate Ambassadors and Academic Study Leaders were nominated, and Nathan was selected for the Award. The award was made at an event at which all the volunteers are thanked for their valuable contribution to the student life at 91快活林.
Nathan chose to study at 91快活林 because he says that: 鈥渁part from the fantastic reputation of the School of Psychology, I didn鈥檛 want to move to a big city: Bangor is a small city and has everything I need, so I feel more comfortable here.鈥�
Publication date: 15 May 2013